By MHCC
The Mountain Times
Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) announces its recent designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security
Agency (NSA). This recognition is valid through the academic year 2029.
The CAE-CD designation is awarded to institutions that meet rigorous criteria, demonstrating their ability to support the nation’s efforts in protecting the national Information infrastructure (NII).
This achievement underscores MHCC’s role in addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals, as outlined in the National Cyber Strategy.
“This designation reaffirms the hard work of our cybersecurity faculty, our commitment to academic excellence, and our role in building a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce that is essential for national security,” MHCC President Dr. Lisa Skari said.
The NSA’s recognition emphasizes the importance of higher education in developing a robust cybersecurity talent pipeline. The National Cyber Strategy, published in September 2018, highlights the strategic advantage of a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce and the necessity of continued investment in education programs that promote these ideals.
MHCC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in cybersecurity program formally launches this fall. The program is the only one of its kind in the state to be offered at a community college.